We did a Christmas candle act.

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12/22 Christmas Candle Act
America, UK, Canada, Spain, Germany, China, Japan,
Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar
Parents from 11 countries who are unable to see their children made an appeal in front of the Ministry of Justice!
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APFS will start in August of this year.
We provide support to foreign fathers and mothers who are unable to meet their children.
We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Left Behind Parents Japan (a group of parents with Japanese and Western roots)
In collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, we held a "Christmas Candle Act" as follows:

[Date] Thursday, December 22, 2011 16:00-17:40
[Location] In front of the Ministry of Justice
[Contents] ●A policy statement was submitted to Ministry of Justice bureaucrats and a request was made.
In front of the Ministry of Justice, the parties lit candles and shared their thoughts and feelings for their children.
We appealed for the amendment of relevant laws.
[Policy Recommendations (Summary)]
1. Joint custody (both the father and mother should be able to be involved in raising the children after the divorce)
2. Enforcement (If the court decides to allow contact with the child, a system is needed to enforce it on the parent or guardian.)
3. Visitation rights (please guarantee all parents the right to see their children)
4. Guaranteeing residence status for foreign parents who cannot see their children
5. Domestic violence (please establish guidelines for restoring parental rights and custody)
[Organizer]
Left Behind Parents Japan (LBPJ)
Non-profit organization ASIAN PEOPLE'S FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY (APFS)

America, UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, China, Japan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar,
25 parents from 11 countries who are unable to see their children gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice.
First, the policy recommendations were handed directly to a person in the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, who then read the entire proposal out loud in both Japanese and English.
An official from the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice has promised that they will certainly consider this policy recommendation.
After the policy proposals were made, a candlelight appeal was held.
The pain of not being able to spend Christmas with my children, and the gratitude of being able to take part in activities with friends from many countries
Various points were raised, including the need for legal reform.

APFS will continue to support foreign fathers and mothers who are unable to meet their children.
We appreciate your support and cooperation.

The policy recommendations submitted to the Ministry of Justice can be viewed below.
Policy Advice Japanese
Policy Statement